الجمعة، 23 سبتمبر 2016

Guide to Criminal Lawyers

Free Bronx Criminal Lawyers Fail to Provide Proper Legal Representation
to Arrested Persons
Indigent persons arrested in Bronx County New York, are represented by
two primary defender services: The Legal Aid Society, and The Bronx
Defenders. Both agencies are what is known as "Institutional Providers".
Institutional providers are large agencies - funded by the government -
designed to provide criminal defense services to thousands of persons
facing criminal charges in Bronx County, New York. Essentially, both
agencies are similar to large public hospitals, providing services on an
assembly line basis. Both agencies are staffed exclusively by Bronx
criminal lawyers who are assigned to represent all persons arrested in
the Bronx unable to hire an attorney.
This system was designed for two significant purposes: to provided legal
services to as many people as possible, and to save money. For a time,
this system actually worked. Persons arrested in the Bronx would be
filtered through each of the agencies bureaucracy. Lawyers would be
assigned to work the cases. Supervisors would review the lawyer's work,
and files would be reviewed, and updated on a regular basis, to assure
that all investigations, legal deadlines, witness interviews, and motion
practice were done in a timely manner. However, in recent years, this
system has come under increasing assault, leading to questionable, if
not insufficient representation.
The reason for the decline in representation by these agencies boils
down to one solitary issue: money. Although, the Bronx experiences the
highest crime rates anywhere in New York City, and has the highest level
of persons below the poverty line, legal representation in criminal
matters has remained unrealistically stagnant. Due to insufficient
government funding, each of the Bronx Legal Aid, and Bronx Defender
lawyers, are now forced to take on ever increasing caseloads. It is not
uncommon for agency lawyers to maintain over 125 criminal cases at any
one time.
Unfortunately, these numbers effectively deny indigent Bronx residents
facing criminal charges meaningful representation. Each of these cases
need to be reviewed, legal papers submitted, witnesses interviewed, and
investigations conducted. It has now reached the point that it has
become virtually impossible for the attorneys to provide barely adequate
representation to persons unable to hire an attorney. An increasing
number of complaints are now being voiced by the very clients The Bronx
Legal Aid Society, and Bronx Defender organizations are assigned to
represent. Clients report that it is nearly impossible to arrange an
office meeting with their appointed lawyer. Calls go completely
unanswered. Clients report being placed under increasing pressure to
plead guilty to criminal charges, even though they maintain their
innocence. In addition, clients report that Bronx Legal Aid, and Bronx
Defender Lawyers, barely communicate with them, even on the very day
they must appear in court.
In short, the The Legal Aid Society, and Bronx Defenders, are no longer
able to provide proper legal representation to indigent persons living
in Bronx County. The remaining boroughs in New York are also
experiencing similar problems, but the situation in the Bronx is the
most egregious due to the high poverty rates of its residents.
Unfortunately this situation is likely to get worse. In a cost saving
move, New York City is actually seeking to assign more cases to the
Bronx Legal Aid Society, and Bronx Defender providers. This may save the
government money, but persons unable to hire an attorney will suffer
the consequences.*
*Author: Alexander Sanchez, Esq. (718-665-0112) is an experienced Bronx
criminal lawyer.
http://www.Alexander-Sanchez-Bronx-Criminal-Lawyer.com
Article Source http://ezinearticles.com/expert/Alexander_Sanchez/492898